Football: UAE outplay Oman in AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers

Muscat: Oman were handed a 5-1 defeat by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in their opening Group A match of the AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers in Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek on Tuesday.
According to news posted on the AFC website, the UAE team faced little resistance from Oman after racing to a 2-0 lead by the 20th minute.
The UAE’s opening goal came from the penalty spot with Ali Saleh Amro slotting home from 12 yards. Seven minutes later, UAE doubled their lead thanks to Ahmad Fawzi finding the target.
Rasheed Jaber-coached Oman tried to fight back and narrowed the deficit in the 28th minute as Mohammed Ibrahim Al Alawi’s scorching shot settled in the back of the net.
UAE, however, continued to dictate terms and their two-goal lead was restored in the 37th minute by Majid Rashid Almehrzi.
The second half saw more of the same with UAE controlling play and Oman struggling to find a breakthrough.
An error by Oman goalkeeper Yousuf Al Sheyadi in the 78th minute allowed Fawzi to score his second of the match.
Hassan Al Hammadi wrapped up proceedings for UAE two minutes from time as UAE took a firm grip on top spot in the group.
Oman play their next match in the five-team group against hosts Kyrgyzstan on Thursday, the day Bahrain will start their campaign against Nepal.
Nepal beaten
Earlier on Tuesday, Kyrgyzstan enjoyed a perfect start with a 2-0 win over Nepal.
In a match that Nepal start more confidently, controlling the match in the first 20 minutes, the hosts opened the scoring, with Gulzhigit Borubaev surging into the penalty area and slotting home from the right flank in the 21st minute.
Five minutes later, Borubaev was on the offensive again but his shot missed the target.
The one-goal advantage, however, gave the hosts the confidence to find another.
Nepal controlled the play at the start of the second half but Kyrgyzstan were more sharper with their attacks.
Towards the end of the match, Nikolai Iuzhanin’s side began to pay more attention to their defence as Nepal went in search of the equaliser.
However, Kyrgyzstan scored off a counter-attack in the dying seconds with Alimardon Shukurov hitting home.